Comedy
Yesterday I told you that as creators, I think that social media is becoming our worst enemy due to the weaponization of the platforms for engagement and the appropriation of content by aggregators and other entities for their use and engagement. As such, I suggested that there might be a way to reassert control over your creative assets, and that’s what I want to talk about today.You see, I think we’ve got to get back to housing our assets in our own spaces, places that we control. Our own ship, as it were. Years ago, I had a small limited run podcast series called “The Peaceful Pirate,” in which I talked about building your own ship. That ship is your website, your base of operations. In one episode, I mentioned the need to go fishing every day, and by that, I meant sending out bait to all the appropriate places—links to social media, contributing to forums, and things of that nature. I believe you still need to do that. What I don’t think you need to do is give your content to social media. Please give them the breadcrumbs to come to your content instead.Some of you might think this is a difference without a distinction, but I don't see it this way. In one scenario, you’re laying it all out there somewhere else for someone to take it. in the other, they’re coming to you. Even in the eventuality that someone steals a photo from your site, for example, you have some recourse as long as your terms spell that out. Even if you don’t care so much about that, then I’d remind you that they had to come to your site, which was the whole point all along. For lack of a better way to put it, you caught the fish, and now that you know you caught one, you can catch another. The Value PropositionChase Jarvis on how to get people to come to your site:Note that I disagree with his suggestion to post your content directly on social. I still think you should link to your content at your place. That said, give them every reason in the world to do that by adding value to the topic, the conversation, and the platform. You have to build trust as someone who knows what they’re talking about, someone who has a talent for the topic, and above all, someone who is an adherent to Wheaton’s Law. What About Clubhouse?Steve Pratt at Pacific Content:First and foremost, whether you’re a creator or a brand, you need to answer this question: what’s the job you’re hiring audio to do?Once you know the answer, you can determine what to make, where it should live (podcasting, Clubhouse, radio, etc), and how to use it. There are lots of great uses — and some not so great uses — for Clubhouse. Here are a few ways to think about when and where it makes sense.As a general rule, if your value prop is that you’re the “blank” of “blank” (Like the ‘Medium of Podcasts’, for example), you’re already in the hole because to remember you, I have to think of someone else first.This is a real-time panel. That’s all Clubhouse is. Even then, I think of forums and Usenet threads back in the day. The shiny bit is that’s its audio. Now, one thing I think it’s got in its favor is that you no longer have to determine if someone is being sarcastic in a post. Unless you can’t listen for context cues, that’s going to be pretty easy to discern. Based on what I am seeing, Clubhouse is not going to be any threat to podcasting. I’m glad to see they’re doing well, but let’s check back in a month or so.I do have one thing to ask about, how’s their moderation game? I haven’t gone poking around, but I wonder what happens with Proud Q. Gunsalot comes poking around with his bullshit. I’m taking a wait and see approach on that. In Praise of BatchingOver at Jasmine Star’s website, they’re talking about batching your content. Hallelujah.I set two or three days per month to create all of my video content… But let me tell you friend, these marathon recording sessions don’t happen without WEEKS of advanced planning.*Yes, it’s true: when you have a plan to work smarter, you don’t have to work harder!*Last week I talked about doing a bunch of stuff on an hour a day, and I thought I was being smart. What if I could work out all the stuff I wanted to do for a month in 2-3 days and get it all out?(You could plan all the other shit you keep crying about making, Roley…)